IMF intervention - A general election is needed now

It was a very sad reflection on the state of our politics that the main emotional response of our people to the news that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union were taking over control of our economic structures was not a sense of shame or embarrassment but general relief that somebody is at last going to assume responsibility for taking the necessary hard decisions.

One public opinion poll over the weekend found that 63% of people of the country welcome the IMF’s intervention. This must be the most damning indictment of any government in our history – a solid majority of people are welcoming the assumption of our sovereign powers by an outside agency.

Who elected the people of the IMF? Nobody elected them. Members of our Government have essentially decided to hand over our sovereignty in these matters because they lacked the courage to do what was necessary themselves.

Twenty years ago the late Brian Lenihan had to resign as tánaiste after he was exposed as having told conflicting stories to different people about an effort to influence President Patrick Hillery in relation to the dissolution of the Dáil in January 1982. By protesting his honesty in the circumstances, he compounded his mistake and insulted the intelligence of everyone. He had to go, and he was duly sacked.

Last weekend members of the Government adamantly refuted a BBC report that a EU bailout for Ireland “was no longer a matter of whether but when”. In the following days different ministers rubbished reports of IMF intervention, but before the weekend they reversed their position.

“The Government’s actions and comments over the past 10 days have fundamentally undermined public trust,” according to sitting Fianna Fáil Deputy for Limerick East and former Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.

Fianna Fáil dropped to a new record low of 17% in the latest Red C poll. It was conducted on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, before the Government’s prevarication and confusion was fully exposed. Instead of the constitutionally prescribed collective responsibility, what the country witnessed last week was ministers engaging in either designed deception or collective confusion.

We need a Government that can command credibility to resume full sovereignty on our own behalf. Everyone realises that the necessary changes are going to be painful. There will have to be root and branch reform of our banking and financial structures.

The manner in which the electorate have welcomed the assumption of control by outsiders is a stark indication that political reform is also necessary. Politicians must recognise that private, sectional and party considerations must give way to the national interest.

This week there is a by-election in Donegal South West, but this is no longer enough. There should be a general election before any credence is given to irresponsible calls for mass protests and civil disobedience to bring down this bankrupt Government.